The Congressional Black Caucus wants the Justice Department to investigate the shooting death of a 17-year-old, unarmed black Florida high school student as a potential hate crime.

This case compromises the integrity of our legal system and sets a horrific precedent of vigilante justice, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) said in a statement. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus stand together in the name of justice for Trayvon. As a nation we cannot, should not, and will not ignore, Trayvons brutal murder and the inconceivable fact that his killer remains free. Contrary to the flippant way this case has been handled, his life had meaning and purpose. Trayvon had a family, friends and a future all taken away because of the color of his skin

He is described by his teachers as s cheerful kid with an A or B average in school. He has no police record and no record of trouble at school and was unarmed when he was shot to death carrying nothing more threatening than a can of ice tea and a bag of skittles.

He sounds like a reasonably good kid to me. The guy who shot him sounds like a trigger happy jerk to me but I’m not the cops or the DA on this case so I’ll reserve judgement.

52
posted on 03/20/2012 8:15:09 AM PDT
by muir_redwoods
(No wonder this administration favors abortion; everything they have done is an abortion)

I think this is, ultimately, a story about a trigger happy cop wannabe and a reasonably good kid who got within range. I dont think its a hate crime so much as a jerk crime.

I don’t know the details of this incident but I can personally say I saw (From the viewpoint of a small town ER) exactly the scenario you are describing. A sheriff’s deputy who was known by the small town to be trouble shot someone over a girl and tried to make out that it was “in the line of duty”. Based on that one personal experience I can easily see how something like this could occur.

Because I don’t know all the facts yet and probably never will. Do you? I think most people can be fairly described as reasonably good. It’s the whole, bell-curve, average thing. If that’s diminishing in your eyes, well so be it. This ain’t Lake Woebegone where all the kids are above average.

55
posted on 03/20/2012 8:27:06 AM PDT
by muir_redwoods
(No wonder this administration favors abortion; everything they have done is an abortion)

I had one last question ..was it the same police officer who pulled you over every time?

Out of the six stops, one got me twice and I told him "that I had already been checked out"

Good. So a Lt., a Capt., or a Chief listened to you. I assume you made your complaint in a calm and succinct manner most people just go screaming into the PD and expect that will illicit the reaction they desire.

No screaming or yelling, just told the Sargent that I was tired of the harassment and if I take this any farther that it would look bad on their department. I haven't been pulled over since the day I went to the station.

My position is that Zimmerman was wrong and Martin was a victim, and I hope for a more in-depth investigation. But, right now, I just want to comment on your situation specifically:

You shouldn’t be stopped and questioned without reason, and your handling of the situation was perfect. Many people of all backgrounds are pulled over and questioned by police when they aren’t doing anything wrong. I’m a white female, and when I was younger, I was pulled over and questioned once just because I looked out of place in a neighborhood. Another time because my car and I fit a description. Yet another time, I was questioned for standing at a corner waiting for a trolley. (And, no, I wasn’t dressed like a streetwalker.) I have a relative who claimed he was constantly pulled over because he had a permit to carry. Where I grew up, teens were constantly pulled over and questioned just for being young and driving around. Or fitting a description. So, it has happened to all of us for different reasons. It’s worrisome because someone could make a wrong move when he (or she) is “under suspicion”... That’s why your handling of the situation was a good move.

But, this story about Martin and Zimmerman is very different. Zimmerman wasn’t even a police officer. It sounds like Martin was just as suspicious of Zimmerman. I’ve been wondering: What if Martin had called 911, too? What might we have heard? Martin might’ve thought the guy chasing him looked like a criminal. And, sure enough, the latest news is that Martin was on the phone with a girl who is claiming he was running from Zimmerman because he was afraid. I don’t know how true that story is, but we’ll find out more soon enough. It’s a very sad story, no matter how it happened.

The best part is that the CBC and Sharpton are getting involved, it’s Florida so it will be a show and I bet Zimmy skates on the charge. That means summertime entertainment for us here in the Appalachian hills.

It’s gonna be a LONG HOT SUMMER for you city folkds and we are glad to get to watch it.

58
posted on 03/20/2012 12:54:45 PM PDT
by AppyPappy
(If you really want to annoy someone, point out something obvious that they are trying hard to ignore)

Well, not being flippant, but I'd contact the Justice Dept. They'd probably be more receptive to your dilemma now than ever before.

Getting pulled over 4 times without PC, once after filing a complaint, I'd have retained counsel.

Lol, well I did think about counsel, but I don't have the money for that. And the way I handled it seems to have worked. But that is the story of my life from my late teens to the present, harassment by the police in one way or another.

I have some horror stories from my late teen years and my young adult life about the cops growing up in the ghetto. "Guilty until proven innocent." Yes, it's the other way around for me, that was the way it was! I'm not too crazy about them or the way that I've been treated.

I also know that they don't like educated smart black men (I say this from experience) that know the law and their rights as an American!

if there was a struggle and zimmerman was in fear of his life, it was self defense. ________________________________ No genius, not if zimmerman initiated the contact --- you can't start a fight then claim self-defense when you're getting your ass kicked and then murder the guy you accosted.

That is the question, isn't it? Of course, mere words alone are not legal justification to use physical force against someone. The question is, who initiated the physical conflict?

Another thing that has come out is that Trayvon Martin was about 70-100 feet from his father's residence where the altarcation happened.

From the pictures and reports, he appears to be a fairly athletic 17 year old, and George Zimmerman does not appear to be in great shape.

One could ask, if Trayvon was afraid, why didn't he just run to his father's house?

Remember George Zimmerman had as much right to be in that public space as Trayvon Martin did.

Mr. Zimmerman’s OWN actions show that he was out looking for a fight. HE approached the young man. He came to the “fight” prepared to fight, while the youth shows no indication of being armed or prepared for any sort of mischief.

What do you mean? We should wait and let the courts find out what happened. Yes, it’s certainly possible that Zimmerman was wrong, maybe he even had heinous intentions, but it’s also possible that Martin attacked him and George defended himself. Whether it was a proportional response, is up to the court to decide.

78
posted on 04/18/2012 5:31:30 PM PDT
by Jacob Kell
(Just because one is famous doesn't mean that they know more than everybody else.)

Hi wtc. I have been listening to the 911 tape from Zimmerman with my headphones on and want to know if anyone else can hear what I think I hear. Zimmerman:

Could you have them call me and Ill tell them where Im at?

911 dispatcher:

OK, thats no problem.

Zimmerman:

My number youve got it?

911 dispatcher:

Yeah, Ive got it. 435-2400? (TIME 7:13:31:19)

Zimmerman:

Yeah, you got it. (Here Zimmerman’s voice is more quiet as a whisper)

911 dispatcher:

OK, no problem. Ill let them know to call you when theyre in the area.

Zimmerman:

Thanks.

END ________________ Now listen very close for a background voice as the dispatcher says *in the area*. I hear what sounds like in another voice say the phrase ‘He’s watching’. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BI03-MRKnI&feature=relmfu Martin could have been talking to his girl at this point. Perhaps while looking at Zimmerman’s truck thinking Z was still sitting in it? Could Zimmerman really have been observing that close and listening without Martin knowing? There aren’t many places for cover down that path. And I still think Z had him cut off at the pass.

>>If you have a gun, follow and then approach an unarmed person who doesn't know you and a struggle ensues, you are not defending yourself if you then shoot and kill the unarmed person you followed and accosted.

Based on the known facts - the kid was carrying candy and iced tea and had every right to be where he was — zimmerman was told by the 911 op to back off — zimmerman approached the kid -— zimmerman shot the kid -— this should be a slam dunk — murder.>>

Get a clue:

1)It's not illegal to follow someone

2)There is no publicly available evidence that George approached Trayvon. Both George's call to the cops and Trayvon’s girlfriend state that as George was following Trayvon, Trayvon ran off. Now if you think that George could have caught up with Trayvon, I've got a bridge to sell you.

3)Yes, a struggle ensued, but who swung first is unknown. I believe Trayvon swung at George after accosting George.

4)There is no evidence available that George “accosted” Trayvon. From Trayvon’s girlfriend's TV statements, Trayvon first spoke to George.

5)Zimmerman did not call 911 and was not told to “back off”. He called the non-emergency number and was told “you don't need to do that” (follow Trayvon). The operator had no authority to order George to do anything.

6)Again, there is no evidence that George approached Trayvon rather than the other way around.

Your comment speaks volumes about the difficulty in picking jurors who do not have their minds made up already. I envision a hung jury. Some white jurors may well vote to convict, but most certainly all black jurors will vote to convict. It is going to be a racist circus trial. Jurors addresses will be leaked and we may well see the Black Panthers show up at peoples houses to threaten them. Holder will have no problem with that.

90
posted on 04/19/2012 5:15:02 PM PDT
by doug from upland
(Just in case, it has been reserved: www.TheBitchIsBack2012.com)

A “white(racist) hispanic” saw a black criminal(all blacks are criminals to Zimm, even the ones he tutors on weekends), so he pulled his gun, and shot the 12 year old Boy Scout in cold blood!! Zimmerman must get the chair!! Or better yet, skip the trial, and turn him over to the Black Panthers!!

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